Hyderabad: A man named Kalyan Banerjee was arrested in Hyderabad for pretending to be an Enforcement Directorate (ED) official and interfering in the Heera Gold investigation.
Banerjee tried to sway the probe into Nowhera Shaik and her associates from the Heera Group, who were charged under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002. After his arrest, he appeared in the Nampally Special PMLA Court and was placed in custody until January 23.
The ED is looking into claims that Nowhera Shaik and others gathered 5,978 crore from investors, offering returns over 36% annually. However, they did not return even the initial investments, leading to significant losses for the investors.
Investigations showed Nowhera Shaik used some of the money to buy properties in her name and in the names of her companies and relatives. ED has secured properties worth Rs 428 crore and filed legal complaints in the special PMLA court in Hyderabad. Following the Supreme Court orders, many of these properties were auctioned via MSTC.
Despite legal attempts by Nowhera Shaik to halt the auctions, she failed. She then allegedly hired Banerjee to pose as an influential insider to disrupt the auction process. He contacted ED officials, claiming connections with top bureaucrats and politicians, to manipulate the auction. When unsuccessful, he resorted to threats.
Intelligence discovered Banerjee’s fraud, revealing his false identity and incomplete information on official documents. He was found in Secunderabad, and a search of his premises uncovered WhatsApp messages with Nowhera Shaik and others, showing unethical attempts to alter the investigation and judicial proceedings.
Banerjee admitted under PMLA provisions that he impersonated an official to pressure authorities, acting under instructions from Nowhera Shaik and her team.
